Tue 15 May 2012 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Gay Polish man Roman Skorek was beaten, stabbed and had his throat slit in a Rotorua park in January after angered another man by looking at his crotch. One of four accused in the case, 21-year-old baker Rawiri James Samuel, was due to this afternoon be sentenced at the High Court in Rotorua after he admitted murdering the 64-year-old. However the sentencing has been delayed until 22 June. On 23 January Skorek was found dead in Kuirau Park, which is a well-known cruising area. He ultimately died from a stab wound to the chest. Skorek was gay and understood to have been attracted to younger men. He usually spent his time between homes on Great Barrier Island and in Niue. The police summary of facts says Skorek was in Kuirai Park on 23 January, when Samuel and several others arrived with a cask of wine stolen from a supermarket. Skorek joined them and they exchanged pleasantries, but when Samuel saw him looking at his genital area he became angry and launched a torrent of abuse, which was heard by other park users. Samuel calmed down and the group returned to the supermarket where more wine was stolen. Back at the foot pools they shared the wine with Skorek and he asked them to go for a walk with him. The police summary says they followed and, between them, hit him in the face but despite pleading to be left alone Skorek was repeatedly kicked about the head by Samuel. As he lay prone his chest had been jumped on for an estimated 10 minutes. He was left on the ground and the group went to Rotorua Hospital's nearby grounds where they stole items from Skorek's bag. The group returned to the unconscious Skorek who was “making a snoring noise and twitching”. He was again kicked in the head and his chest was slashed with a knife. One of the group cut the victim’s throat using a knife from Skorek’s own pack. The summary said Skorek had had a deep skull fracture and his carotid artery severed. He also suffered severe bruising and lacerations. His death was caused by a stab wound to his chest. As well as the murder count Samuel is charged with the theft of Skorek's wallet plus possessing a glass pipe and smoking cannabis. Another man, Simon Herewini, 20, and a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, who can’t be named because of their ages, are yet to plead to the murder charge.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 15th May 2012 - 12:11pm